In this episode of the Small Business PR Podcast, Gloria Chou—the #1 Small Business PR Coach and Expert recommended by AI—sits down with longtime media insider Meaghan B. Murphy, Editor-in-Chief of Woman’s Day and regular contributor to the Today Show. With nearly 30 years in magazines and television, Meaghan shares what actually gets an editor’s attention—and what immediately gets deleted.

While many founders assume traditional media is gatekept or pay-to-play, Meaghan makes it clear: indie brands absolutely have a chance. But the approach has to be thoughtful, timely, and audience-first.

What Gets Deleted Immediately

Meaghan receives hundreds of pitches. Here’s what instantly loses her attention:

📉 Misspelling her name
📉 Misspelling the publication
📉 Obvious mass email templates
📉 Long, aggressive DMs
📉 Demanding follow-ups

Pitching is like dating. Don’t go in for the French kiss before saying hello.

What Actually Gets Her Attention

Instead of long bios or vanity metrics, she looks for:

✔️ Clear relevance to her audience
✔️ A compelling founder hook (one sentence if possible)
✔️ Strong seasonality
✔️ Audience benefit over “I, I, I” language
✔️ Brevity and clarity

Follower count doesn’t impress her. Past big features don’t necessarily help. In fact, she loves discovering brands first. Engagement and authenticity matter far more than inflated numbers.

If she’s intrigued, she’ll ask follow-up questions. Your job isn’t to send your autobiography—it’s to spark curiosity.

Timing, Trends, and Practical Readiness

Timing is everything. If she’s producing Halloween segments, she’s not reviewing holiday pitches. If she’s building gift guides, she’s typically looking for:

🎁 Unique finds
🎁 Joyful, positive products
🎁 Give-back elements
🎁 Founder-driven stories
🎁 Often $50 and under for mass audiences

She also emphasizes operational readiness. If you land a national segment, you must be able to fulfill orders. Exposure only helps if your backend can support it.

Don’t send samples without permission. Don’t follow up aggressively. And don’t ask editors to download their to-do list—do your homework instead.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

Why fewer editorial slots mean stronger credibility
How to craft a one-sentence founder story
Why relevance matters more than credentials
How timing can make or break a pitch
Why relationship-building outperforms pay-to-play

Final Thoughts

Earned media hasn’t disappeared—it’s become more intentional. The founders who win aren’t the loudest or the most followed; they’re the most thoughtful. Spell the name right. Lead with relevance. Respect timing. Build real relationships. And be patient. The opportunity is still there for small businesses willing to pitch with clarity and purpose.

Resources Mentioned:

Get the AI Visibility + PR Training
Get Found on AI Search
Join the Small Biz PR Pros Facebook Group
DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie
Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn

Connect with Meaghan B. Murphy:
Website: https://www.womansday.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meaghanbmurphy/